PaleyFest 2012 Announces First Three Honorees: AMERICAN HORROR STORY, MAD MEN and MODERN FAMILY

It looks like the annual festival for all things television is getting off to a dysfunctional startâ€¦and I mean that in a good way. PaleyFest 2012 has announced the first three honorees of the event and all of them feature some of TVâ€™s most quirky and unconventional characters. FXâ€™s American Horror Story will serve as the gala opening,AMCâ€™s Mad Men returns to the festival after being honored in its debut season and ABCâ€™s Modern Family will close out the two week festival.

The 29th annual PaleyFest will return to the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills from March 2nd to the 14th, 2012 in a celebration of fantastic television. Hit the jump for more.

PaleyFest 2012â€™s announcement of American Horror Story, Mad Men and Modern Family is just the first in an extensive roster of programs rolled out by the festival. Past shows have featured appearances by the casts and crews of such series as Eastbound & Down, True Blood and The Walking Dead. PremiumPasses to the festival will go on sale December 8th with additional Premium Packages and Individual Event Tickets available at a later date. Check out the official site here and follow their Twitter account for more updates. The full press release follows below:

The Paley Center for Media today announces it’s 29th annual PALEYFEST: The William S. Paley Television Festival will return to the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills from March 2 to 14, 2012. The Paley Center is also pleased to reveal the first three television series to be selected as honorees for the 2012 event; American Horror Story, which will serve as the PALEYFEST gala opening; Mad Men, which returns to PALEYFEST after initially being honored during its debut season; and Modern Family, which will close out the two week celebration of great television. American Horror Story, Mad Men, and Modern Family will kick off an extensive roster of programs for the 2012 PALEYFEST with additional talent appearances, screenings, and panels to be announced within the coming months.

PALEYFEST Premium Passes including admission to each festival event will go on sale December 8, while additional Premium Packages and Individual Event Tickets will be available at a later date via the Festival’s official site.